Nevertheless, Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom mentioned on Tuesday it had no plans to accumulate uranium mining property.
“Rosatom rejects as fully inaccurate the stories on its ‘plans’ to accumulate uranium mining property in Niger owned by Orano,” Rosatom advised Reuters.
In a press release on Monday, Orano, which has a significant uranium mining operation within the north of the nation, mentioned it was not conscious of any discussions with Rosatom or different Russian entities.
Orano’s operations have continued regardless of a navy coup in July final 12 months.
“In all circumstances, Orano complies and can adjust to the worldwide sanctions regimes relevant to it,” the corporate mentioned.
The West African nation has the continent’s highest-grade uranium ores and is the world’s seventh-biggest producer of uranium, the radioactive metallic used as gasoline for nuclear power.
In January, Niger’s self-appointed authorities quickly suspended the granting of recent mining licences and ordered an audit of the sector.
(By Anastasia Lyrchikova, Benjamin Mallet, Alexander Marrow and Anait Miridzhanian; Modifying by David Evans)